Register or counter for machines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. BEARD.

REGISTER OR GOUNTER FOR MACHINES, STEAM ENGINES, PUMPS, &c.

No. 329,996. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. BEARD.

REGISTER OR COUNTER FOR MACHINES, STEAM ENGINES, PUMPS, dzc.

\ No. 329,996. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE BEARD, OF WVILTON, NE\V HAMPSHIRE.

REGISTER OR COUNTER FOR MACHINES, STEAM-ENGINES, PUMPS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,996, dated November10, 1885.

Application filed November 28, 1884. Serial No. 149,004.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HoRAoE BEARD, of Wilton, in the county ofHillsborough and State of New Hampshire, haveinvented a new and usefulImprovement in Registers or Counting-Machines; and I do hereby declarethe same to be described in the following specification and representedin the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a front elevation;Fig. 2, a vertical and longitudinal section; and Fig. 3 a

and Fig. 5 a front elevation of the mechanism contained within the caseof the register or counting -machine. Fig. 6 is a :vertical sectiontaken through the ratchet-wheel of the first counting-wheel, saidsection showing the mechanism for operating said ratchet-wheel. Figs. 7and 8 are opposite side views; and Fig. 9 is a top view of any one ofthe countingwheels, except the first one and the last one of the series.The saidlast one, although having on one side of it a gear, ashereinafter described, having several teeth, has no singletoothed gearon its opposite side, as is the case with each of the other wheels ofthe series. Figs. 10 and 11 are opposite side views of the firstcounting-wheel. Fig. 12 is an outer side view of the frame forsupporting the operative mechanism, said view not only showing thedevice for moving the pendulous or swinging frame, but also the crankfor turning the setter, to be described. Fig. 13 is a longitudinalsection of said crank. Fig. 14 is an elevation of the spring and thestudded disk for determining the position of the setter, as hereinafterexplained. Fig. 15 is a view of the I register or counting-machine withthat side of the case to which the gate is applied removed.

(N0 model.)

covered by a pane of glass, through which the figures on thecounting-wheels can be readily seen. These counting-wheels (shown at B,O O O O, and D) are arranged on a stationary shaft, E, having a straightgroove, 1), in it lengthwise of it, each wheel being arranged to revolvefreely on the shaft. Between each wheel and the one next to it, andencompassing the shaft, there is a thin washer, 0, having its eyeprovided with a tooth, d, to enter the groove b, and thereby prevent thewasher from revolving on the shaft. The washers are to keep the wheelsapart in order that any one of them shall not bear or rub against a nextone, so as to accidentally revolve it. Each wheel of the series has onits periphery the figures 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, such figures being atequal distances apart at their centers. The first counting-wheel, B, hasprojecting from its outer side a gear, F, having nine teeth, 0 andbetween the first one and the last one of them a space, (1, equal insize to a tooth and the two spaces between it and the two teeth betweenwhich it is situated-in other words, this nine-toothed gear is like aten-toothed gear with one tooth removed. Each of the othercounting-wheels has projecting from its side next to the first wheel aten-toothed gear, G, one tooth of whichnamely, that marked 3 and next tothe figure 3 of the wheel-has a thickness less than or half that of eachof the others, said tooth as well as each of the others projecting fromthe side of the counting-wheel. Furthermore, each of thecounting-wheels, except the last one, D, of the series, has projectingfrom its other side a single-toothed gear, H. There is fixed to thefirst counting-wheel, B, at one side thereof, as shown, a ratchetwheel,I, to be intermittingly revolved by an impelling-pawl, f, pivoted to alever, g, and pressed against the ratchet-wheel by a spring, h. Toprevent backward turning of the ratchet-wheel, it has adapted to it aretaining pawl or spring, a, which is fixed to the frame K that supportsthe shaft E. A spring, k,being wound around the washer, whichencompasses the pivot of the lever g, and having one of its ends incontact with one of the rods in the frame K, and the other of its endsin contact with a stud which projects from the lever serves to forcebackward the said lever after such advance of it with the pawl f. Behindthe series of counting-wheels is a swinging frame, L, which is pivotedto the frame K or upon a rod, (1 therein in a manner to enable saidframe L to be swung within said frame K, so as to carry to theintermediate gears of the counting-wheels, the setter M, or the seriesof gears N, arranged within said swinging frame. The gears N are soarranged opposite the spaces between the counting-wheels, and aresupported in such a way by the shaft Z, which extends across theswinging frame, as to freely revolve upon it. The gears N are kept attheir proper distances asunder upon the shaft by means of the washers m,arranged thereon, as shown. Each gear N has ten teeth, and each washerhas a tooth extending from it into the groove 0 in the shaft, said toothand groove being to prevent the washer from revolving on the shaft andturning either gear beside the said washer.

The setter (shown at M) is a barrel or cylinder having two ranges ofteeth, a and a, projecting from its periphery and in oppositedirections, as shown. The number of teeth in each range is the same asthe number of counting-wheels. The teeth of the setter are to engagewith the teeth of the gears G of the counting-wheels, except theirthinner ones, (marked 3,) the paths of whose movements are not in thesame plane with those of the teeth of the setter. By revolving thesetter by means of the crank O, afiixed to one of its ends, the severalcounting-wheels are revolved, so as to bring their zeros to range inline with one another and into such a position as to be seen through theglass pane of the case. The setter, therefore, is to set all thecountingwheels in their proper relations to one another for the machineto begin to count.

The handle of the crank is or may be applied to the body as the blade ofa penknife usually is to its handlenamely, so as to be capable of beingturned either into parallelism with or into a right angle to the saidbodythe object of having said handle in parallelism with the body beingto move the handle out of the path of movement of the gate or plate P.The gate is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 19, pivoted in the frameK, said shaft having attached to it at its inner end the cam q,extending within the recess 1" in the arm 8 projecting from the swingingframe L. The gate, when shut, covers arecess, f, made in the adjacentside of the case A, said recess being for the purpose of containing andshielding the crank 0. Access cannot be had to the said crank withoutopening the gate, and thereby bringing the setter into a position torevolve the counting-wheels when the crank is turned.

By shutting the gate (see Fig. 12) the cam q, by its action against thearm .5, moves the frame L in a manner to move the setter away from thecountingwheels, and at the same time to carry the series of gears N upinto the spaces between the said counting-wheels. Opening the gatecauses the setter to be moved in a direction toward the counting-wheelsand the gears N in a direction away from them.

When the gate is open, the teeth of the setter are in position to meshwith the teeth of the gears F and G of the counting-wheels, and if thesetter while in said position be revolved by turning the crank,thecounting-wheels will be moved until each one presents its zero to Viewbehind the pane of glass in the front of the case. When each wheel hasbeen so set by the setter, said wheel cannot be further moved by it, asthe teeth of the setter, while it shall continue to revolve, will passthrough the space that is between the first and ninth teeth of the wheelwithout contact with either of said teeth.

If we suppose the lever g to be connected by the rod to with suchmechanism as will impart to said rod a reciprocating movement lengthwiseof it, the lever, when said rod is so moved, will be reciprocated, andwill cause the impelling -pawl to intermittingly revolve theratcl1etwheel, whereby the counting-wheel B will be intermittinglyrevolved. XV hen the figure 9 of said wheel arrives in such a positionthat it can be seen behind the pane of glass, the single-toothed gear ofthe wheel will mesh with the first one of the gears N, which then mesheswith the gear G of the next countingwheel 0. On the succeeding movementof the lever 9 taking place, the first counting-wheel will be revolved,so as to cause its zero to appear to view behind the pane of glass. Thenext counting-wheel G will also at the same time be revolved so as topresent its figure 1 to view behind the pane of glass. counting-wheelhas been turned, so as to present its figure 9 to view behind the paneof glass, said wheel in its next movement will cause its one-toothedgear to mesh with and to turn the intermediate gear N in range with it,so as to turn the next counting-wheel onetenth of a revolution.

From the aboveitwill be seen that the first counting-wheel will continueto be intermittingly revolved while the machine is in operation, and ineach entire revolution of said wheel the next counting-wheel will beturned one-tenth of a revolution. In each revolution of this secondwheel and each succeeding wheel the countingwheel next in advance willbe turned one-tenth of a revolution, whereby the number of movements ofthe first wheel will be indicated by the. figures which shall appearbehind the pane of glass.

Each of the intermediate gears N, as well as the ten-toothed gear toengage with it, has applied to its teeth what I term an adjuster, R,which is for the purpose of bringing the gear and that of thecounting-wheel with which said gear is to engage into proper positionand keeping them there, so that they will be sure to properly mesh. Eachadjuster is an arm, 7), having at its free end an angular head or cam,w, and pivoted on the shaft :0 or 00, each of the adjusters beingprovided with a spring, 3 for forcing it against the gear,

After each.

so as to cause the angular head or cam of the adjuster to enter thespace between two of the teeth of the gear, and by bearing against themforce the gear into a correct position. There is in the frame L astop-rod, z,which prevents the upper series of adjusters from coming incontact with the series of gears G when said gears are in engagementwith the series of gears N.

The setter has fixed to that one of its ends to which the crank is notattached a cranked wheel or disk, a, (see Figs. 4 and 14,) provided witha stud, b, projecting from one side of it near its periphery. Againstthis stud bears a spring, 0, which is kept in position by being woundaround the tubular washer of the rod d and by having one of its ends incontact with the nut at one end of the shaft Z, as shown. The saidspring is for the purpose of keeping the setter in position to preventits teeth at their ends from abutting against the ends of the teeth ofthe gears of the countingwheels while the setter is in the act of beingmoved down to engage with said gears.

In range with the connecting-rod a there is a stud or projection, S,having arranged with and pivoted within it, as shown, a caster, T, whoseshank is tubular, and whose wheel is grooved in and around itscircumference. A line or cord, U, attached to the rod u, passes throughthe shank of the caster and against the periphery of the wheel. Thecaster enables the line to be extended in various directions radially tosaid caster, the caster turning and accommodating itself to the lineunder a draft thereon. The line is to be attached to the movable part ofa machine the number of whose movements it may be desired to ascertainfrom time to time by the register or counting-machine.

I claim-- 1. The combination of the series of counting-wheels, figuredand provided with the gears F, G, and H, substantially as described,with the swinging frame L, its series of intermediate gears, N, andsetter M, and with the mechanism for intermittingly revolving, asexplained, the first one of the series of counting-wheels, saidmechanism consisting of the ratchet-wheel I, impelling-pawl f, lever 9,its rod a, and cord U, and springs h and k, all being arranged within aframe, K, and said frame disposed within the case A, essentially as setforth.

2. The combination of the swinging frame L, provided with the gears Nand setter M, to operate, as described, with the gears of thecounting-wheels, with the mechanism for moving said frame L, to carryeither the setter or the gears N into or out of engagement with thegears F and Gof the said counting-wheels, said mechanism for so movingthe frame L consisting of the recessed arm 8, extending from said frame,the cam q, arranged in the recess of the said arm, the shaft 1), and thegate P, all being substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the series of counting-wheels, the gears F, G,and H, the setter M, and the swinging frame L, substantially asdescribed, of the studded disk a and the spring 0, secured to the saidswinging frame and bearing against the stud b of the said disk, allbeing essentially as set forth, such spring and studded disk being tokeep the setter in a position to prevent its teeth at their ends frombut-ting against the teeth of the gears of the counting-wheels while thesetter is in the act of being moved down to engage with said gears.

4. The combination of the frame L, provided with the recessed arm s, andthe setter M, provided with the crank 0, having its handle to fold down,as described, with the cam q within said arm, and with the shaft 0, andthe gate or plate P, for moving the said cam, such handle being to foldupon the body of the crank in order to move it (the said handle) out ofthe path of movement of the gate or plate P, as explained.

5. The combination of the caster having the tubular shank and groovedwheel, and supported by a stud or projection, as described, with theframe A, and with the reg ister or counting-machine, substantially asset forth, provided with the line or cord U, and rod a, and their lever,pawland-ratchet wheel, as represented, and mainly consisting of theseries of counting-wheels, their gears and swinging frame with itssetter and series of gears, all being arranged and supported so as tooperate essentially in the manner and for the purpose described, thefirst one of the series of counting-wheels having mechanism forintermittently revolving it, as explained.

HORACE BEARD.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT BEARD, Mosns CLARK.

